MEPs discuss how to best control EU lobbyists. The institutions should have a common register for interest groups, but should it be mandatory?

Common register for EU lobbyists?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15584929/N001-110510-002-EN.srt

A group of activists has taken it  upon themselves to clean up the EU

Brussels could have  as many lobbyists as Washington,

But the EU has no strict guidelines  to keep lobbyists in check,

There had been a strong relaxation  of financial regulation

which contributed to the financial crisis,

and this was partly due to  huge lobbying by the finance industry.

The Commission has a voluntary lobby  register, but only a few have signed up.

As the Lisbon Treaty enhanced  the EP's lawmaking powers

MEPs are calling for a common register  for all EU institutions

Anyone who wants to represent  their interests must first register

and declare every element  of their legal and financial structure.

Recently hit by a lobbying scandal, the EP  has vowed to clear up the lobbying code.

Some have called for it to be US-style,  but not everyone is convinced.

It’s a good example, in Washington,  but we have a European tradition,

It’s not possible to adopt the US system  one-to-one, we need our own culture.

If the report gets voted, the days  of the lobbying paradise could end.

The transparency register  should go online in June,

so you can see for yourself  who could be influencing EU laws.